The 2nd Annual Vegetarian World Festival will be held in downtown Chicago on August 13th and 14th. There will be spaces for 25 clothing/material vendors and 25 restaurants, with an estimated attendance of tens of thousands. The Festival will run for one day with a opening reception/concert the evening prior.

The festival will attract strong community support as well as have international representation. Vegetarian World Festival will showcase the best in vegetarian cuisine, natural clothing, ethnic arts and crafts, holistic healthcare information and a variety of speakers and entertainment. Lincoln Park will be transformed into a holistic village of socially and morally conscious professionals and community members from the Midwest and across the United States. Additionally, there will be international participation.

The mission of the Vegetarian World Festival is to:

Increase the social awareness and consciousness concerning an alternative or holistic approach to life or a positive lifestyle that will/can enhance the quality of life for all living creatures on the planet.

A portion of the proceeds from Vegetarian World Festival 2005 will benefit not-for-profit organizations inclunding Tinuah Foundation, a community based arts and entertainment organization.

Our local partner is Soul Vegetarian restaurant. Soul Vegetarian Restaurant has been a Chicago staple for the past 20 years, serving the entire Chicago community from the Southside Chatham area.

It is our hope that our mission and proposal will help you join our cause and become a sponsor of Vegetarian World Festival 2005. We look to harness the growing vegetarian and holistic lifestyle demographic that is growing in Chicago and around the world.

The Growing Demand for Vegetarian Foods:

About 20% of the population looks for a restaurant with vegetarian items

About 33% of the public would order non-meat items if they were offered

Approximately 7% of the total population considers themselves vegetarians

Approximately 3% of the vegetarian population considers themselves vegans (absolutely no animal products)

More restaurants and businesses are marketing to vegetarians and putting vegetarian products on their shelves

The number of vegetarians has almost doubled in the past 10 years
*Published by the Vegetarian Resource Group